I am hoping he does - that would be fantastic. Kimi doing it would also be fantastic.

But it is racing and Webber, Perez and Button will be stiff competition - the Macca was as fast as the Red Bull - just less reliable, so unless they muck it up over there again, that should be very close racing. In addition, I foresee Lotus stepping it up which will mean tough competition from Kimi (if Grosjean gets it together, count him in too). Then there is Ferrari - assuming they step it up Alonso will be in it and possibly Massa as well if Ferrari allow him to race. Mercedes is the dark horse - Nico and Lewis could be right in there too if they manage to get it together AND keep it together, i.e., keep up with the other constructors.

So loads of potential competition and it is the nature of the sport that you cannot predict outcomes. Still, Vettel will be in it to win it and never give up, so looking forward to some great racing!

Surprised so many people can't see beyond Vettel. Mclaren had a quicker car last year if they fix there reliability and competition issues then you have to fancy Button. Also Alonso very nearly took the tittle last year in an inferior car. if the Ferrari is any closer to the Red Bull in 2013 you have to fancy Fernando for the tittle.

Button will have to improve alot to be a genuine contender! Far too inconsistent last season

Agree but we know that when things are going well he has a tittle in him.

Surprised so many people can't see beyond Vettel. Mclaren had a quicker car last year if they fix there reliability and competition issues then you have to fancy Button. Also Alonso very nearly took the tittle last year in an inferior car. if the Ferrari is any closer to the Red Bull in 2013 you have to fancy Fernando for the tittle.

Button will have to improve alot to be a genuine contender! Far too inconsistent last season

Agree but we know that when things are going well he has a tittle in him.

Hehe, tittle. I love that word.

_________________"You are the universe expressing itself as a Human for a little while..."

Well knowing how much it would upset the haters (mostly Alonso/Lewis fans) I wouldn't mind it at all but for the good of the sport it'd be nice if someone would be able to beat him to the title next year.

Highly likely because when Newey gets on a roll he can dominate for a decade, as he did in the 90s. Its already bad enough a driver like Vettel, has won 3 titles in a row, as its really under minded many great champions, who never had the luxuries of Vettel, like the fastest car for almost his entire career. Luckily the real experts in the sport realise greatness is much more than just statistics, and Vettel will never be a legend until he proves himself in inferior machinery or against a great team mate rather than beating a 36 year old journeyman.

Its such a misjustice that he has had so much success. The most spoilt driver in history. Hopefully Ferrari have learned to design a proper F1 car finally, and its at least close to the redbull because Alonso will do the rest easily.

Its going to be very difficult as good as Vettel and Red Bull are Ferrari and Mclaren a poised to put up a stronger year. And you cant count out Lotus/Raikkonen and Mercedes/Hamilton they will win more races than last year. Ultimately im expecting a 5 car challenge for race wins for the most part this year.

It all depends on how fast Vettel's car is in relation to the others. Same goes for the other drivers. The top drivers are so consistently competitive, but if their cars are off-pace they can do little about it. Not even Alonso's brilliance could overcome those two tenths or so that his car was off the Red Bull's speed in 2012.

Any one of Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel could win, dependent on car. We'll have to see how good Rosberg and Raikkonen are: are they in the top class, or are they with Webber, Button in the number two class?

Personally I think a better question would be, will Vettel win 6 consecutive titles or 7?

This would not depend much on Vettel, but more on his team staying the same and the car being fastest. As it was with Schumacher at Ferrari; had Michael moved to another team in the years 2000 to 2006 he'd not have won all those championships.

Red Bull are the team most likely on previous years form to have either the best car or one of the best cars, and they have a elite driver in Vettel to get the results.

I would say the most likely to upset the apple cart is still Alonso. It just depends on what what Ferrari give him. Kimi and Jenson are outside bets. Lewis won't have the car and Perez I do not think is ready just yet.

Well knowing how much it would upset the haters (mostly Alonso/Lewis fans) I wouldn't mind it at all but for the good of the sport it'd be nice if someone would be able to beat him to the title next year.

Hehe.. I'm an Alonso fan but I'm not crying in my beer because a better driver won But agree, haters/sore losers, I hope their drivers go on for many more years without any championships

_________________o·ver·rat·ed - overestimation of skills or abilities, anything that is given too much credit and hype.

I'd take a Hulk title challenge if I can't have a Hamilton title challenge... anything but Vettel winning another! He may still race at the front to make it exciting though, if only to lose at the final round.

_________________"You are the universe expressing itself as a Human for a little while..."

Well knowing how much it would upset the haters (mostly Alonso/Lewis fans) I wouldn't mind it at all but for the good of the sport it'd be nice if someone would be able to beat him to the title next year.

Hehe.. I'm an Alonso fan but I'm not crying in my beer because a better driver won But agree, haters/sore losers, I hope their drivers go on for many more years without any championships

Vettel will only win if his car is 0.1% to 0.2% faster than the cars of Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen.

One of my first rookie posts on this Forum was "The car is most important." Assuming the driver is good enough, the car/team are crucial. According to my ratings system, top drivers' performances hardly vary season-to-season when in their prime. Which is why most depends on the car/team.

I voted for Vettel in the Op's poll. But this is pure guesswork on my part. I haven't a clue as to how the 2013 cars will compare. Good question to spark discussion.

Vettel will only win if his car is 0.1% to 0.2% faster than the cars of Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen.

There is no simple answer - although one would like to think so. His car can be .5% faster than everyone else on the track, but if it isn't reliable, then...

Quote:

One of my first rookie posts on this Forum was "The car is most important." Assuming the driver is good enough, the car/team are crucial. According to my ratings system, top drivers' performances hardly vary season-to-season when in their prime. Which is why most depends on the car/team.

it is 50% car and 50% driver; neither is most important. The car's 50% is less dependable (in terms of consistency) than a top driver's 50% because a car is recreated every year and modified throughout the season. That doesn't make it more important though...

I don't really give a toss who wins - so long as it is via some close racing. After all, it's all very well being a fanboy or fangirl of some driver/team or other - but surely even such fanatics don't want to see a runaway type championship? (I mean, the Brawn WCC was hardly very exciting to watch now was it? - even with the closing up of the other teams in the latter part of the season)I dunno about other folk - but all I want to see is close, hard racing, preferably lasting the whole season, and preferably being ultimately decided by the driver skills rather than the 'car' or it's development. The actual chequered flag position is not too important to me - I watch for the on track racing and if I've seen some real 'racing', overtaking, etc - then I'm a happy bunny!

FWIW, I would probably prefer someone else to win other than Vettel - as I still have slight reservations about his 'completeness' as a top driver (always having a competitive car, etc) but I do actually like Vettel himself, and if he has to properly race to get his 4th championship, then I'll still be appreciative. I really don't think Webber can do it, or Perez or Massa or RG (all have poor consistency) - so, on the assumption the Merc is not up there - that only really leaves Kimi, Button and Alonso as real potential challengers due to them at least having said consistency (reliability issues excepted).......

If I could wave a magic wand - I'd have all the cars within about a tenth of each other on actual pace - and then sit back and watch to see how the drivers and teams use their skills to get to the front in each race! It's the wheel to wheel racing that provides the main appeal of the sport (IMHO) and it is that I want to see...just sayin.....

This poll is a bit black & white. Where is the "I hope not" or similar option. I voted yes cause there is a greater chance of him winning it than not winning it but I would have preferred more options . I do love the way that the OP states that if Alonso is not leading the championship by mid way thru the season than Ferrari haven't got a hope. No if or but or even a maybe. It must be nice to have a crystal ball that tells you that, if this is the case, all other teams that are in front of them at the time will have a faultless second half of the season

Last edited by DrG on Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Why? I can't imagine they are bosom buddies, but Hamilton knew he was leaving a top team for a weaker one - so as far as I can imagine he would be pleased if JB won, especially since he obviously begrudges SV's run of competitive cars!

Why? I can't imagine they are bosom buddies, but Hamilton knew he was leaving a top team for a weaker one - so as far as I can imagine he would be pleased if JB won, especially since he obviously begrudges SV's run of competitive cars!

He knew he went to a weaker team, but he also knew he parted with a team where too much has gone wrong for him the last few years.I'm pretty sure, that in the event everything now goes buttery smooth for Button and he becomes WDC, Hamilton will not be a happy man.